d into the needs of babies in orphanages. Children who were not regularly picked up and held did not grow as much as other children, even though they were receiving the same amount of food. Children need love, care, attention, cuddles and time with their mother in the first year. (Fathers are important, but the mother child bond is the primary one in the fWhen I was working with at risk teenagers, I would sometimes ask them why they were doing some of the wrong things they did. They each answered in the same way- they just were trying to get someone to say no to them, and would keep on being naughtier and naughtier until someone did. Sadly for some of them, the first person to say no often ended up being a judge in court, after a particularly bad act by the teenager.

Everyone needs boundaries. We have natural boundaries such as gravity to keep us from floating up in the sky, and the boundaries of matter such as if we run into a brick wall we will get a lot of bruises and a sore head! However we also need boundaries in our lives to help us relate in positive and healthy ways with other people. People with good personal boundaries are much more likely to be successful in employment, and have healthier relationships. Helping our children set good boundaries is one of the most important jobs we can ever have. This involves teaching our child who they are, what they can do, and how they can relate to others. Helping our child have good boundaries starts right at birth.

The first boundary our children should learn is the boundary of love. This is during the first year to eighteen months of your child’s life. Our babies come to us totally unable to care for itself. It needs feeding, sleep and plenty of physical touch. There is a well known study that looked into the needs of babies in orphanages. Children who were not regularly picked up and held did not grow as much as other children, even though they were receiving the same amount of food. Children need love, care, attention, cuddles and time with their mother in the first year. (Fathers are important, but the mother child bond is the primary one in the fi

judge in court, after a particularly bad act by the teenager.

Everyone needs boundaries. We have natural boundaries such as gravity to keep us from floating up in the sky, and the boundaries of matter such as if we run into a brick wall we will get a lot of bruises and a sore head! However we also need boundaries in our lives to help us relate in positive and healthy ways with other people. People with good personal boundaries are much more likely to be successful in employment, and have healthier relationships. Helping our children set good boundaries is one of the most important jobs we can ever have. This involves teaching our child who they are, what they can do, and how they can relate to others. Helping our child have good boundaries starts right at birth.

The first boundary our children should learn is the boundary of love. This is during the first year to eighteen months of your child’s life. Our babies come to us totally unable to care for itself. It needs feeding, sleep and plenty of physical touch. There is a well known study that looked into the needs of babies in orphanages. Children who were not regularly picked up and held did not grow as much as other children, even though they were receiving the same amount of food. Children need love, care, attention, cuddles and time with their mother in the first year. (Fathers are important, but the mother child bond is the primary one in the f

tive and healthy ways with other people. People with good personal boundaries are much more likely to be successful in employment, and have healthier relationships. Helping our children set good boundaries is one of the most important jobs we can ever have. This involves teaching our child who they are, what they can do, and how they can relate to others. Helping our child have good boundaries starts right at birth.

The first boundary our children should learn is the boundary of love. This is during the first year to eighteen months of your child’s life. Our babies come to us totally unable to care for itself. It needs feeding, sleep and plenty of physical touch. There is a well known study that looked into the needs of babies in orphanages. Children who were not regularly picked up and held did not grow as much as other children, even though they were receiving the same amount of food. Children need love, care, attention, cuddles and time with their mother in the first year. (Fathers are important, but the mother child bond is the primary one in the f

Helping our child have good boundaries starts right at birth.

The first boundary our children should learn is the boundary of love. This is during the first year to eighteen months of your child’s life. Our babies come to us totally unable to care for itself. It needs feeding, sleep and plenty of physical touch. There is a well known study that looked into the needs of babies in orphanages. Children who were not regularly picked up and held did not grow as much as other children, even though they were receiving the same amount of food. Children need love, care, attention, cuddles and time with their mother in the first year. (Fathers are important, but the mother child bond is the primary one in the f

d into the needs of babies in orphanages. Children who were not regularly picked up and held did not grow as much as other children, even though they were receiving the same amount of food. Children need love, care, attention, cuddles and time with their mother in the first year. (Fathers are important, but the mother child bond is the primary one in the first year) There are some very simple ways in which you can build this boundary of love with your child. First you can breastfeed them as long as you can, if this is possible for you. Breastfeeding makes us spend close time with our children, and not only nourishes them physically but also gives them the touch they need.

Secondly, if they need comfort in this first year, give it to them without question. A baby can not be spoiled- no matter what people say! By picking your baby up when they cry, comforting them and cuddling them, you are giving them the most important message they will ever learn- they are safe, they are valued and they are loved.

Thirdly, if they are in daycare in this first year, make sure you spend quiet time with them at the end of each day. You are the most important person in their life- not their caregiver. The boundary of love continues until your child begins to break away from you and discover they’re a unique, separate person. If you have put in the hard work of love (and sometimes at three in the morning love can feel a little tough!) then your child will trust you as you start to put the next boundary in place-the boundary of Limits.